Mazda Protege5

dsm6

Just saw one on the lot. It said it was assembled in Japan with 95% Japanese made parts. If in, doubt, just look on the new vehicle sticker, I think usually on the second page near the top.

newcar31

only the first digit in the vin is the country identifier. The second usually identifies the manufacturer. 1, USA, 2, Canada, 3, Mexico, J, Japan, W, Germany etc. etc. Edmunds is wrong, the Protege has always been made in Japan.

bluong1

Trust us, the P5 is made in Japan. Reliability: I never heard any serious complain. Most of the complains are really minors: rattle noises because the speaker swap is not done correctly, or because the car is not warm up, occasional CD skipping, etc... Mine has 10k trouble free and happy miles.

Bruno

vocus

I had a 2001 Protege ES with the same radio as the P5 has. I definitely had issues with the radio in it. It died one time because I played it too loud (the dealer said), and it also made the battery in the car drain and left me stranded. That was the only major issue I have had with either of my Proteges though (1999 DX and 2001 ES back-to-back). They are definitely good cars.

Sporin

Proof?

As stated on my window (by law) and my VIN starts with a J.

Trust me, Edmund's should have fixed that by now. A big reason why I BOUGHT the car was that it is one of the last, truly Japanese cars you can buy. I plan to keep it a looooonnnnggg time. :-)

bblacha

The CD skipping??? Good heavens, what a piece of junk!!!

Seriously, thanks for the info guys. I believe you :-)

--Bart

tincup47

I realize the first digit is the country of origin, but the first 3 digits together are called the World Assembly Identifier. The World Assembly Identifier shows the country, manufacturer, and plant the vehicle came from.

newcar31

Ah, I didn't know there was a name for the first 3 digits. I should have read your post better.

audia8q

Protege Japan
P5 Japan
626 US
Millenia Japan
Miata Japan
MPV Japan
Tribute US
Truck / B series US
RX8 Japan
6 probably US and japan

dolce2

my factory alarm system did go off "randomly" (appraently due to wind from passing cars on the street) the first couple of days after I got the car. I took it back to the dealer right away to get that fixed. They said the alarm was "over sensitive" and just adjusted the sensitivity of the alarm. Now the problem is gone.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your new P5!

cayennered1

For the record it is the Mazda Tribute that is built in St.Louis.

That and the Flat Rock, Michigan plant (626) are the only sources of American made Mazdas.

The new Mazda 6 will be built at Flat Rock.

rdcasey

Can anyone tell me how to adjust or remove the roof rack on the Protege5? My salesman (believe it or not) didn't know and I can't find any info in the manual.

Also, referring to previous posts, it is made in Japan. The poster who said "J" at the start of the VIN number indicates Japan was correct.

Thanks for any info on roof rack.

vries

The only problem I've had so far with my new Pro5 is the lousy radio. I changed the speakers today. I put in Polk Audio speakers. The sound is much better but I'm afraid not good enough for my taste yet. So, I will be replacing my radio as soon a dash kit is made for the car. The people at Circuit City seemed to think it would be a couple of months. I will be looking into a CD receiver with XM Satilite radio. Circuit City and Best Buy have demonstations of XM and it is awsome. Digital quality sound with 100 different stations for $10 a month.

rdcasey

I agree with the last poster. The Protege5 is a great little car, but I was coming out of a VW Jetta (gave it to my son for graduation) and its 6-speaker stereo was FAR superior. I can't get used to the Protege5's and will be looking into a speaker upgrade, too.

Speaking of (pardon the pun)...has anyone tried installing speakers from Crutchfield.com? They make it sound simple and inexpensive, and the P5 door seems like an easy one to remove. Appreciate any input.

vries

Yes, I bought my speakers at Crutchfield. The front doors were easy to install. The back ones required an adapter bracket. The Crutchfield people were very nice to work with.

vocus

I went from a 2001 Protege ES to a 2002 Jetta with Monsoon, and the radio is 1000% better. At least the radio doesn't cut out when I turn it up loudly.

ateixeira

True, but the Jetta was likely at a much higher price point, wasn't it?

-juice

vocus

Yeah, it was at a higher price point, and the Monsoon was also $325 extra. But the Jetta and Protege compete in the small-car arena. Also, I had a 1999 Protege DX with the cassette/CD and the radio was great. Never a problem. The new modular radio that Mazda is using for the Protege was a big mistake, I think.

ateixeira

In that case you get what you pay for, no surprise there.

My wife's 1995 626 has a decent radio, and my 1993 Miata is pretty good, but the CD skips now. 8 years old, can't complain if that's my biggest problem with the car.

My Miata has the psychedelic Mazda Sensory Sound stereo with the bass thumpers behind the seats, headrest speakers, and door tweeters. There are a total of 8 speakers in that tiny little cockpit.

-juice

protegextwo

"Thanks for all of your comments. Actually, I was really thinking more of the other maintenance items other than the oil change. I haven't been to Mazda yet for a simple oil change. The other stuff, like the 24,000km (or equivalent) suggested maintenance has many more checks and what I would consider minor, yet likely important, items. I worry that if I don't get those things done at Mazda, or if a separate mechanic doesn't do *every* single thing on Mazdas maintenance list then I could get denied a warranty claim. Any thoughts?

by mp5freak Jan 03, 2002

Mp5freak, consider the goodwill you create when having preventative maintenance completed by your local Mazda dealer. It's true that service is a profit center for auto (Mazda) dealerships, nonetheless free warranty work can only be completed by a Mazda dealers service department. There are instances where a Mazda franchise dealership will repair or adjust something that the manufacture won't. These could be items that are border line customer abuse, or repairs after the manufacture's warranty expires and even items that fall outside of original Mazda warranty coverage. How far will a service manager go out on a limb for someone he has never seen before? Just a thought on "goodwill" and suggested maintenance.

-Larry

protegextwo

"Yeah, it was at a higher price point, and the Monsoon was also $325 extra. But the Jetta and Protege compete in the small-car arena."
by vocus Jan 05, 2002 (07:04 pm)

Yea right, someone on a $17,750 Mazda PRO-5 wagon budget is gonna jump up and spend $24,500 for a Volkswagen turbo wagon? Your half right, the V-Dub Jet is a small car. However, the $5,000 to $7,000 price differance, puts the Jet in it's own niche or maybe shopped against the more reliable, better performing Subaru WRX Wagon? Nevertheless, the Jet Wagon is a verrry nice car! I think the PRO-5 is more likely shopped against the Ford Focus Wagon or the Hyundai Elantra Hatch? Just my 2 cents, any other opinions folks?

-Larry

sunbyrne

There's going to be a Protege meet in Waco on January 26th, check out:

http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1092&pagenumber=2

For the details. I might be able to make it, depending on whether or not I'll be in Orlando instead...

rdcasey

Thanks for the Crutchfield.com feedback. Were the back doors on the P5 easy to remove as well? I understand Crutchfield supplies instrux and any adapter needed...are the front speakers 5x7" and the rears 6.5"?

I also agree on the Jetta vs. P5 comments...yeah, the Jetta is $4,000 or so more, which is why I gave my 60,000-mile Jetta to my son for graduation and went for the P5...I wanted a stick, a moonroof and the 0% down, 0% interest deal since I was financing 100%. It's really a terrific deal. The stereo is my only complaint (that, and the lack of variable intermittent wipers).

I compared P5 (which is my first Mazda, but the Protege was my second choice when I shopped for the Jetta in '99) to Elantra GT hatchback, Civic, Sentra (I've had 2 of those and loved them...but Nissan only gives you P5 or Jetta-like packages if you get the new SE-R. Then they want like $19,000 for them and it's, well, a Sentra! And the seats are unacceptably hard. I drove a 2001 Sentra SE, too, and was shocked at how much I didn't like it.

All in all, the Protege5 is a great little car so far. Thanks again for info on crutchfield.

Sporin

There is a plastic "shell" around the uprights that pops off in two pieces. That exposes screws adn bolts that are pretty self explanatory. Once everything is off, pop on the supplied covers adn you're as smooth as you can get.

Here's mine sans rack . . .

vries

The Front speakers are 6X8( I bought the Polk Audio EX368 ) and the rear are 6 1/2( I bought the Polk EX602A).
The front required no modification. Just an easy replacement. The rear, however, required a bracket between the door opening and the speaker. Not difficult. Just make sure you screw them in tightly.
The hardest part when removing the door panels was the handles(the padded handles....not the small door opening handles) ....especially on the rear door. They came off very hard. Be careful on this. You need the proper 'prying tool' for this. Ask Crutchfield for one. There are clips behind the handles which are secured very tight. It requires a lot of pulling.

rdcasey

Excuse my ignorance, but...

I still don't get it. I popped off the small piece BEHIND the rear rack, and the small piece in front of the forward rack. I saw the phillips screws on top of each side of each bar. I didn't see any other screws.

Isn't there a way to simply adjust the rear rack without taking everything off? I appreciate any assistance.

khoa_98

You have to take off the plastic off of the rear bar, because there's a bolt under that that you have to remove to adjust or remove the bar.

khoa_98

I'm a half a quart low on oil, and I'm at 3200 miles. I'm due for an oil change, but I was wondering if that was normal or if anyone had a similar experience.

mnkyboy

I purchased my Protege 5 about a month ago, and I filled up my tank twice so far. The first time I filled up, I calculated 26.2 mpg. The second time I filled up I calculated 22.3 mpg. This is very low, and I was wondering if anyone else had this problem. I have a 5-speed. I am also using 87 ocatane (regular). Many people have told me that the octance doesnt matter when trying to get better gas milage. Anyone have this problem? Tips??

Sporin

Remove the screws and the cross bars come off with the vertical posts. (if I remember correctly) Underneath are the bolts.

bluong1

Oh no! I have a bike training in the same day than Protege meeting in Waco. As it finish around noon, I don't think I can make it. Oh well... Thanks anyway for the invitation, I hope you can make it and report back to us.

Bruno

bluong1

Bellow is an old post in this Forum. I save the text, but can't remember who is the author.

Bruno

---
I took my rack off to see what it looked like. Its not hard. You need a philips screwdriver and a cresent wrench or sockets. The front one is the easiest. Just look where they attach to the roof. You will see two screws (If you are short, get a chair so you can look down on rack from above. You will see these screws) that will need to come out. This will enable you to remove cover(two pieces), and will reveal a bolt. Just take those cover pieces off, remove bolt and your done. Then plugs just snap in. The rear is a little differnt. Remove the cover the same way. I think the rear has the main bolt, and two more screws to take out. Then slide the washer the bolt was in out of the railing. The plugs will snap right in. I thought it looked ok without them, but it would look super cool if instead of putting plugs in them, the black rails were gone altogeather. Maybe the rack should have been an option. Sometimes its nice to have a choice. I ended up putting mine back on...the black rails just look out of place without the rack attached. The antenna just screws out of its base. If it was ever standing in the way of putting cargo on the roof, it can easily be taken off.
----

bluong1

... is on the article published by Motor Trend, in Jan 2002 issue. The slalom speeds are 64.8 for mp3 and 65mph for P5. The breaking distance is also in the favor of the P5: 124 vs 132ft from 60mph to 0.

Bruno

bluong1

do you mean the oil level is below the minimum limit mark on the oil gauge? Did you check the oil when the car was new? Mine does not consume oil at all, at least I do not notice any.

Bruno

bluong1

22.3mpg is indeed low. I run around 28.3mpg for 70% Hwy driving at 80mph. And yes, there is no difference of mileage between gas having different octance index. Check your tire pressure.
Bruno

mnkyboy

bluong1, what should the tire pressure be on the stock Dunlops? Is there anything else I should check? I also would like to state that this is my first 5-speed manual car that I have owned. So I still have not mastered it yet. Will this affect the gas milage that much? ANY help would greatly be appreciated, I want to find the root of the problem. Thanks.

Sporin

New manual driver? 22 mpg in a Pro? You knwo it's a **5** Speed right?

Just kidding! Couldn't resist.

Try shifting earlier. Unless I am in a real hurry, I shift no higher then 3k and I cruise at around there too.

I get between 28 and 29 mpg with about 30% highway driving.

bluong1

I inflate my tires between 32-35psi, lower pressure for the rain season and light load (e.g. just myself in the car), higher pressure for the dry season or heavy load (travel with 2-3 passengers). I don't think you need to be a shifting "master" to get a decent mileage. In contrary, it will likely cost you more gas. :-). I would say you should check for gas leak and tune up when you are absolutely sure that there is something wrong with the car.

Bruno

moo01

Just purchased a treamill last weekend and the 2x3x5 box fit perfectly in the car! 2 delivery guys said it won't fit in the "little" car, but it did and the back closed completely too! The following day, I went to IKEA and purchased a car load of stuff...this "little" car is great!!!

newcar31

I got 22 mpg once on the way back from La Crosse, WI. I have no idea why. I usually get 26 mpg in heavy city traffic.

My car doesn't burn any oil, not enough to tell from the dipstick anyway. The dipsticks on these cars are really inaccurate anyway. They always read "overfull" so if you were a half quart down on the dipstick, it might have been a full quart. It might be because the engine is brand new. I changed the oil on mine at 400 miles, and at 1500 so I wouldn't know if it was using oil intitially. Keep an eye on it.

mnkyboy

QUOTE of Sporin:

"#2387 of 2390 by Sporin Jan 07, 2002 (10:24 am)
New manual driver? 22 mpg in a Pro? You knwo it's a **5** Speed right?

Just kidding! Couldn't resist.

Try shifting earlier. Unless I am in a real hurry, I shift no higher then 3k and I cruise at around there too.

I get between 28 and 29 mpg with about 30% highway driving."
-------------------------------------------------
whats so funny? i said "5-speed" :P

Sporin

I know! I know! But I couldn't help it!! :-)

seminole_kev

I think he was implying (jokingly) that you may only be using 4 or less gears....

bluong1

is actually not counting the reverse. Hope that you are aware about that mnkyboy and sporin. ;-)

Bruno

mnkyboy

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:
"is actually not counting the reverse. Hope that you are aware about that mnkyboy and sporin. ;-)

Bruno"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
LOL, ha...ha...ha...

Are you serious? I thought it was a 10-speed, like the bike... LOL

the_big_h

i just received the strut bar kit (w/ cruise) for my '00 ES, but have no idea how the pieces should be put together. If anyone could kindly post a picture showing how their protege5's strut tower bar and cruise control is put together on the strut tower, that will be great.

thanks

bluong1

you can go to Edmunds P5 First Drive article, click on "Complete Photo Gallery" and there you can find a picture of the strut bar. I have no idea why the strut bar is related to the cruise control (?!)

Bruno

toddmon

Vries - have you really found the Polk EX368s to be much of an improvement over the stock speakers? I put in a pair of Polk EX572a speakers in the front (I also got a pair of EX602a's for the rear, but didn't have enough time to install them) and was disappointed to find only a minor improvement over the factory speakers. I'm trying to decide whether to send them back and get the better Polk models (EX368), but I'm thinking that until I replace the head unit, I won't hear much of a difference no matter which speakers I use.

Todd

reagle

My 2002 Pro Es with automatic got about 26 mpg on the first fillup, then it went downhill from there:24, 23, 22. It did get colder so the tire pressure has dropped a bit.. Other then that I don't get why it's so low. This is for light city/highway 50/50 driving, pretty much always below 3k rpm.I kinda expected something closer to 27-28

boopoppa

i think i read somewhere that the mp5 time was a little faster because the wagon is actually balanced better in weight than the sedan. anyone else hear this?